Hundreds gather for "Tax Day Tea Party" in Goshen

April 12, 2009|By Sarah Rice, WSBT-TV reporter

GOSHEN — Tax Day is less than a week away, and thousands of people across the country and right here at home are marking the deadline by protesting what they call wasteful spending in Washington. On Saturday, hundreds gathered in Goshen for a "Tax Day Tea Party." With a sign hanging around his neck, 10-year-old Oliver Brummel is letting Washington know exactly how he feels. "He's in more debt than I am now because of this, because he's got more working days ahead of him than I do," said Oliver's father, Mike Brummel. It's all part of a grassroots movement sweeping the country. "And now we're starting a trend across the nation that will culminate April 15th, where Americans say enough is enough," said Elkhart County Tea Party member, Joe Guerrero. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Elkhart County Courthouse Saturday for a "Tax Day Tea Party", protesting irresponsible spending in Washington. "Over spending, over taxing, redistribution of wealth, the taking away of the American spirit of entrepreneurship, not good," said Guerrero. These events were inspired by the Boston Tea Party of 1773 where American colonists dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to protest taxes by the British government. Some say what's happening now is no different. "We can't be taxed, at least without deliberation. Let's talk about these bills before they're spent," said Brummel. Protesters are especially concerned about pork barrel spending. And local leaders say they have a solution. "If we went to a flat tax and a fair tax, and racheted back the spending in this country, we absolutely could," said State Representative Jackie Walorski. And protestors say changing Washington starts right here. "Well, here's a time where we can stand up and say 'Wait a minute I've been silent too long. Now I have to say what's right and what's wrong,'" said Guerrero. "I'm real proud to be an American today," sauid Brummel. Protests will also be held on Wednesday at the Goshen and Elkhart Post Offices from 5 to 9 p.m. It's estimated that 400 similar protests are planned across the country over the coming week.